Stacker-head.



No 817,882- PATENTED APR. 17, 1906. 0. F. SMITH.

STAGKER HEAD.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 17. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 mg. I.

No. 817,882. PATENTED APR.17, 1906.

0. E. SMITH. STAGKER HEAD.

APPLIOATION FILED D30. 17. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ORBIN F. SMITH, OF ALBIA, IOWVA.

STACKER-HEAD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 17', 1906.

Application filed December 17, 1904;. Serial No. 237,336.

To all whmn it 171/11 concern:

Be it known that I, ORBIN F. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Albia, in the county of Monroe and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Stacker-Heads, of whichthe following is a specification.

Those who are familiar with the use of haystackers know that it oftenhappens that high winds carry the hay from the stacker-head too quickly,with the result that the hay fails to drop on the stack or so near theedge thereof as to make unnecessary hard work for the man on the stack,causing great difficulty in building same shapely and waterproof.

The object of this invention, therefore, is to obviate the abovedisadvantages, and for this purpose the hay-fork, which is carried bythe usual suitable liftingframe, is peculiarly constructed, so that itwill operate automatically to prevent the hay from being blown therefromunder the conditlons of service above mentioned; further, in addition tothe above the structure of the fork or head is such that same may bereadily adjusted so as to regulate the throw of the hay as the same isdropped therefrom to the stack, facilitating the building of the latterin a manner which will be set forth more clearly as the descriptionproceeds.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result reference is to be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions bychanges in the structure and minor details without dearting from thespirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodimentthereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aperspective view of a stacker embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation, the stacker head being shown nearly at the limit of itsupward movement,

the dotted lines illustrating the range of movement of thepitcher-teeth. Fig. 8 is a view in elevation showing the arrangement ofthe parts of the stacker-head when same is upon the ground. Fig. 4 is abroken perspectiveview showing a portion of the stackerhead and bringingout clearly the mounting of theteeth thereon. Fig. 5 is a detail brokenperspective view showing more clearly the form of the hook-bars.

Corresponding and like parts are referred l to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters. 1 The stacker which is illustrated in the drawingsis, generally speaking, of a type which is now commonly in use. Thisstacker comprises, essentially, the longitudinal runners 1, a suitablederrick 2, an elevating or lifting frame consisting principally of sidebars or arms 3, and a head or fork 4. The derrick is connected with thelifting-frame in any suitable manner, and since the detail structure ofthe stacker is not essential in the contemplation of theinvention sameis not minutely described.

The 1iftingframe, which carries the fork 4, is adapted to be raised orlowered in the custom ary manner when stacking the hay. The fork or head4 is of special construction, as before premised, and consists oflongitudinal or main teeth 5, which receive the hay thereon as it isdelivered from the rake and the back or pitcher teeth 6, through whichthe hay is delivered to the body of the stack. The main teeth 5 arerigidly mounted upon the lifting-frame of the-stacker, whereas thepitcher-teeth 6, which extend at an angle to the teeth 5, are adjustablerelative to the lat ter. The teeth 6 are secured together at their lowerends by a transverse bar 7, and a second transverse bar 8 connects saidteeth 6 between the ends thereof. A plurality of curved bars 9 arepivoted to the teeth 5, one bar being provided for each tooth andconnected therewith at one end, the opposite end of said bar beingsuitably secured to the adjacent pitcher-tooth 6. The pitcher-teeth 6are thus pivotally mounted and are movable toward and from the teeth 5by means now to be described. Mounted upon each of the side bars 3 ofthe elevating-frame of the stacker and adjacent the fork 4 are disposedrocker-arms 10, each of said arms being pivoted between its ends to thebar or arm 3, upon which it is mounted. A rod 11 connects one end ofeach rocker-arm 10 with the adjacent end portion of the transverse bar8, secured to the pitcher-teeth 6. A flexible connection, such as a ropeor wire 12, is secured at one end to that end of each of the arms 10opposite the connection 11, and this rope 12 is adapted for adjustableconnection with the lower portion of the stationary or rigidsupporting-frame of the stacker. As shown, each rope 12 is provided atone end with a plurality of links 13, and a hook-bar 14 is securedadjacent the front ends of each of the runners 1, the hooks of said barsbeing adapted to engage the links 13 of the adja cent connection 12. Inorder to prevent the ropes or connections 12 from being entangled inadjacent parts, said connections preferably pass through loops or likemembers 15, secured to the bars 3 of the elevating-frame at a pointabout intermediate the ends of the latter.

Describing the o eration of the invention under various con itions ofservice, the connections 12 may be so adjusted that the pitcher-teeth 6will remain immovable or in an ascertained position relative to theteeth 5 when the elevating-frame of the fork is raised or lowered. Inhigh winds, however, in order to prevent the hay from being blown fromthe fork or head away from the stack or toward one side thereof theconnections 12 are so adjusted, by engagement with the hook-bars 14,that as the lifting-frame is ele vated the rocker-arms 10 will be tiltedso as to gradually cause the pitcher-teeth 6 to advance toward the mainteeth 5, thereby guarding against a premature delivery of thestacker-load. It will be noted that the above operation is entirelyautomatic, the connections 12 once having been adjusted, and theadvantages of this feature are of no small importance. When the stack isso far advanced that it is desirable to throw the load of hay well tothe middle thereof, the connections 12 are adjusted so that thepitcher-teeth will advance to a position about at aright angle to theteeth 5 after the lifting-frame has been elevated, if necessary. Fortopping the stack the teeth 6 may be set so that they will form abasket, which will retain the hay to be removed by the man at work onthe stack as he may need it for distribution. The normal position of therocker-arms 10 is one almost in alinement with the adjacent bars 8 ofthe elevating-frame, and this position is always assumed automaticallywhen the liftingframe is lowered to the ground. When the lifting-frameis upon the ground, the pitcherteeth 6 are out of the way.

The construction of the fork or head is very simple, and the operationof the pitcherteeth being entirely automatic decreases the amount oflabor involved in the stacking operation, insuring the formation of aperfect stack.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is In astacker, the combination of an elevating-frame, a fork mounted thereonand comprising main teeth, pitcher-teeth pivoted to the main teeth at anangle thereto, a transverse bar connecting said pitcher teeth,rocker-arms pivoted between their ends to the sides of theelevating-frame, rods connecting one end of each rocker-arm with thetransverse bar connecting the pitcher-teeth, hookbars attached to thebody of the stacker, and connections having adjustable connection at oneend with the hook-bars aforesaid and connected with the ends of therocker-arms opposite those connected with the pitcher-teeth.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ORBIN F. SMITH. [L.s.]

Witnesses:

O. S. HITOHNER, CHAS. F. ISRAEL.

